Barracuda was originally owned by Stephen and Francine Johnson. They used her as a demonstrator for 6 months under the name of "Fascinate". She did an appearance at the Southampton boat show as well as being featured in Practical Boat Owner. Stephen had used his accumulated knowledge from helping design and sell many OVNI's to design and specify this one so she was about as well set up as you could want. We were very happy to benefit from Stephen's knowledge and bought a great boat.

The specification of the boat as bought was as follows:

Standard specification as published by Alubat including: main, furling genoa, genoa furling system, staysail, cutter rig, D2.55 Volvo engine, , 1 forward cabin, 1 aft cabin, 1 aft head, curtains, holding tank, battery charger and load distributor, hydraulic rudder lifting system, three blade propeller.
Welded options
• 8mm welded cheeks to stern roller
• Welded cleat as per Med mooring x 1
• Welded cleat in anchor locker x 1
• Welded cleats on arch x 2
• Welded hand rails on deck x 4
• Welded hand rails on transom x 2
• Welded instrument console at companionway
• Welded dorade vents at granny bars
• Welded stack vents in cockpit coamings
• Welded suspended foredeck locker
• Cockpit table ( fixed) 345 size
• Welded gullies around aft lockers
• Welded anchor locker divider
• Welded hand rail starboard side anchor locker
• Welded boat hook on arch as per 435#102
• Welded bosuns locker - internal access - no teak on top
• Welded tang on deck - stow stay sail stay
• Welded recessed boarding ladder - port side no teak on cover
• Welded modifications for windlass
• No teak on welded liferaft locker lid
Mechanical - Electrical
• Aerogen 6 Wind generator
• Extra battery
• Mast head tri light with all round white with normal bulb
• 12v outlet at pedestal
• 12v outlet at companionway on instrument console
• Kiwi folding prop
• Anchor winch upgrade - 1000w vertical deck mounted
Deck - sails
• Closed stern rail starboard side with curved seat
• Fully battened main + lazy bag + rigid boom vang + main sail track + ball bearing traveller
• Genoa UV strip : Colour Paris Rouge
• Outboard bracket
• Spray hood - Colour Paris Rouge
• Bimini - Colour Paris Rouge
• Upgrade genoa sheet winches ST54
• Window band/windows as per 'Belote'
• 4 pad eyes in cockpit
• Pedestal/wheel and cockpit table cover
• Asymetric/cruising chute inc bag and snuffer
Interior
• Insulation with Armacell on frames
• Split table leaf (main saloon table) Reduce leaf width by 50mm
• Surell solid resin work surface Colour Moonlight
• Upgrade fabric 30m Zoom
• Upgrade galley sinks
• Upgrade to Eno Gascogne twin burner oven
• Central fridge - extra storage cupboard as per 395#36
• Roller blinds to deck hatches
• Upgrade reading lights on main saloon bulkhead & cabins (6)
General
• 20 KG Delta
• 4 Warps
• 6 fenders
• 60m x 10mm anchor chain
Detail
• Shelves to all hanging lockers + hanging rail
• Spinnaker pole
• Plastic deck fillers on top of fuel tank for manual control
Navigation Equipment
• Alpine CD/Radio/w MP3 interface with FM/LW + 2 speakers.
• Furuno Navnet 3 12" display
• 2.2kw radome on bracket on arch
• Furuno Wind system (direction and speed)
• Furuno Close hauled + multi display head
• Simrad AP28 Autopilot with hydraulic ram etc
• ICOM 505 VHF + HM162E repeater at wheel